Sports Coaching and Performance MSc

The main aim of the course is to produce graduates who are equipped with the key knowledge and skills to develop coaching within Northern Ireland to assist with lifelong participation in sport or physical activity, excellence and leadership. This will be achieved by accruing and disseminating a body of knowledge from key experts involved in coach development both directly and in partnership with governing bodies in sport, utilising innovative and appropriate communication to benefit all learners. This would be a cutting-edge programme that will support those involved in coaching and link with the needs of the industry.

The climate for developing sport and coaching in Northern Ireland and the UK has never been more positive. With major international events being hosted here, coach education and development have become a major focus for policy and funding decisions by Governmental Departments. The establishment of the UKCC across four levels and different coaching contexts being developed, this has provided an opportunity to modernise existing coach qualification and learning programmes. Graduates who successful achieve sports coaching degrees fulfil roles in a wide range of sport and non-sport related organisations.

Applicants must: (a) have gained; (i) a second class honours degree or better in a related discipline (for example – BSc Sports Coaching, BSc Psychology; BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology; BSc Sports Studies; Sports and Exercise Sciences or Physical Education) from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or (ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification; and (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent); In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.